Janice M. VanAirsdale

Janice "Jan" VanAirsdale age 89 of Appleton formerly of Neenah passed away peacefully on Tuesday February 11, 2025 after a lengthy illness. Jan was born on February 5, 1936 to the late Bernhard and Elizabeth (Goettlicher) Wenzel. Jan grew up in Menasha and graduated from Menasha High School in 1954. She married Jack VanAirsdale on August 16, 1958 in Neenah.
Jan had a vibrant energy that was evident in every part of her life. She faced challenges with remarkable strength especially after the unexpected passing of her beloved husband Jack. She relied on her faith and her family to get her through that difficult time.
Jan's saving grace was joining the Sweet Adelines. She made lifelong friends with these amazing women and traveled with them competing with choruses from all over the country.
Jan worked most of her adult life as a bookkeeper for Equitable Reserve Association until her retirement.
She spent much of her free time quilting, and she was an avid golfer. She loved watching the Packers and for many years held season tickets. She looked forward to game day each week. She loved going to the cabin or as she referred to it as "the house that Jack built". Jan took so much pride in sharing the love she had for that special place and shared that pride with her friends and family.
Jan's greatest joy was being" grandma" or the many endearing variations each grandchild called her. She never missed a ball game and was always up for a game of cards. Her family was her greatest sense of comfort to her and her legacy will live on thru all of them.
Jan is survived by her children: Steve VanAirsdale, Vicki (Kurt) Maurer and Julie (Dave) Frisque. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Ashley (Mike) Borkowski, Lindsey Rankin (Derek Techmeier), Ryan Schmidt, Tyler (Brittany) Schmidt, Rebecca (Stephen) Darrow and Cole VanAirsdale; her great-grandchildren: Tenly and Tucker Borkowski, Logan and Charlie Rankin, Emma, Maren and Blayke Schmidt and Taylor and Sydney Darrow. Jan is further survived by her sisters-in-law Mary Ann Wenzel, Verla Jones and Sandra (Bill) Fahrenkrug.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her son Stuart her brother Ronald Wenzel and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 19, 2025 at the Kessler Fahrenkrug Funeral Home 304 S. Commercial St., Neenah. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services. Interment will be in St. Margaret Cemetery.